Ecclestone targets August date for F1's Bahrain GP

Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone hopes the Bahrain Grand Prix will be staged during the championship's summer break after being called off due to unrest on the island.

Written by Associated Press

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London:

Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone hopes the Bahrain Grand Prix will be staged during the championship's summer break after being called off due to unrest on the island.

Maintaining that "we need a race in Bahrain," Ecclestone believes the original season-opener can go ahead in August despite the country's intense summer heat.

The teams will also need to agree to their planned three-week break being interrupted after anti-government protesters forced Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa to cancel the March 13 race.

"If the crown prince is of the opinion that his country is able to host a race we will return to Bahrain," Ecclestone said on the official F1 website on Tuesday. "I think the teams are sensible enough even to race in Bahrain in the summer break, and despite high temperatures, because this is the way we can support the country."

A new date could be decided by the World Motor Sport Council next Tuesday ahead of the new season opener in Melbourne on March 27.

"The FIA has to change the calendar and Bahrain has to apply for a new slot," Ecclestone said. "I have already spoken with FIA President Jean Todt about the possibility of finding a new date and we both agreed that a decision has to be made before the season starts."